Members of the Oshodi-Tapa Family have insisted that non-descendants of their family, and that of Oshodi-Arota Ologun family cannot be crowned king in Oshodi.

The Alternate Chairman of Oshodi-Tapa Family Council, Chief Maroof-Deen Oshodi, who made the disclosure in Lagos, however, explained that the delay in filling the vacant stool of the Oshodi monarch was occasioned by the upgrade to Oba Grade 1 that the baale stool was undergoing.

“We are not unaware of several strange claims to the throne, including the gambit by Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsaya, to be installed as Oba of Oshodi. We want to publicly distance our family from this campaign,” he said.

According to him, the family is confident that the Lagos State government or any sub-judicial authority would not take any step that would cause a breach of law and order in Oshodi and beyond, which would raise doubts about the people’s oft-stated belief in the sanctity of the rule of law.

“We also want to assure members of the public that we will respond to this and other such efforts if there is any need to do so, as we had responded to earlier attempts to usurp our heritage, and this is by pursuing legal redress in a peaceful and rational manner, as upstanding and law-abiding members of the society. The judicial process did not fail us in the past and we believe that there is sufficient precedence to believe that it will subsist with all possible fervor.”

Oshodi, who provided historical evidence to confirm that Oshodi land belongs to the family, noted: “It is not a yesterday’s claim, but an established historical fact that has ensured more than two centuries or over 200 years.”

He added that several centuries ago, their ancestor, Chief Tapa Oshodi, was given the land in recognition of his military prowess and assistance to the Onigbesa of lgbesaland during slave trade.

“The land gift was a gesture of appreciation, by the Onigbesa, who was the original owner of this area from time immemorial, and it has been our possession since then, not as customary tenants, but as absolute owners. The Onigbesa gifted us the land without conditions.

“For the sake of clarity, this territory includes all the expanse of land stretching from Matori, Mafoluku, Ogunoloko stream canal, Sogunle, Alasia, and only bordered by the Railway line otherwise known as Onigbongbo. Therefore, any claim to any part of the said land, by any individual, group or association outside the Oshodi-Tapa Family is null, void and of no consequence.”